is it risky buying a travel trailer that is 8 years old

The risk is based on how you will use the TT. Are you going to go on long distance and frequent trips? Or are you going to park it in a campground for long periods of time? Mechanical issues are going to reveal themselves with heavier use, especially for things like tires, brakes, frame, suspension, etc. Things like water leaks and broken appliances will happen regardless of type of use.

Unlike cars, I've never been successful convincing my wife to buy used RVs. We would walk through a few on the dealer's lot and realize how poorly so many people treat them. Fabrics are ripped and have burn holes, wood is chipped, appliances are stained, and they have that "smell" in them because they are not kept clean. Every time I've sold an RV, the buyer or dealer has commented on how it still looked brand new, which is what I pride myself in.

this may or may not be a factor to you, but a TT that is 8 years old may also not have a lot of the modern conveniences of a brand new one. When we bought our 2014 unit, we got an electric water heater and powered awning, which have been two of the biggest improvements over our previous 2006 TT. Lighting the old gas water heater was a huge hassle, and so was the manual awning.

My opinion is that if the detailed inspection shows the TT is in good overall shape, and you have some mechanical ability to repair things (or if new to RV'ing, have the ability to learn on the fly, like I did), then there shouldn't be too many risks to buy.

But with every purchase, new or used, make sure this is the TT you actually want and you aren't just attracted to it because you can save some money over a new unit. If you aren't happy with the TT in the long run, it doesn't matter how much you spent...

Do NOT buy unless you have an experienced independent RV tech go over it from one end to the other, top to bottom.

Do NOT trust a dealer.

Do NOT ignore this advice.

Google "mobile RV repair" along with your ZIP code. See how much a tech charges for an inspection. It's not a guarantee that everything's perfect, but can put your mind at ease.

I've come across several people who bought new because "they didn't want to deal with someone else's problems."

Then they lost use of the RV for weeks to months of prime time because warranty work gets done when they have free time. People coming and paying cash go to the head of the line.

We bought our 1997 6 yrs ago and have upwards of 30,000miles on it and have spent upwards of 800-1000days in it. Problems have been negligible.

Have it checked out by an RV tech but make sure the tech has no affiliation with the dealer.

just like a used car or truck...

if you can not do a good check out... hire one.. not the selling dealers word...

I just purchased a Good used 10 year old Coachmen... last month..
dealer said they checked the brakes... I checked them a week later.. BAD and BAD
dealer did replace all 4 brakes for free... otherwise I am happy.

Parking brakes should be mandatory...on trailers. my opinion.

FOR HEAVENS sake never trust the dealer to inspect it, hire a inspector, the cost will give you peace of mine that its a good or bad rv, who,knows this rv could have been in a flood, dealer sells rv,s he,s not going to tell you things that would kill a sale. when you buy a used car OR a house it gets inspected.

Our first TT was a Sunline T-1550 that was 14 years old when we bought it, so age by itself is not the issue. Our current TT is 15 years old. A thorough inspection is a must, as a number of replies to this post have said. Typically the refrigerator is the most expensive appliance to replace, so if it is weak or non-functioning that would be a deal-breaker. If the unit has any water damage, walk away.

I have a 2006 Hornet that has been a great trailer. Condition is always the issue when buying used.

Don't depend on the dealer to check it out. Have them show you that everything is working - hook it up to power, run the AC, the heat, tell them that when you come, you want to open the fridge and freezer to feel the temp, check for obvious signs of water penetration. Check to make sure you have hot water and good pressure. Look under the cabinets to be sure there are no drips. Then get up on the roof and inspect the roof. Don't expect it to be pure white, but it should be in good condition - and check the caulking for cracks. If you see cracks, then it needs to be redone - most likely needs it anyway. Inspect caulking around the exterior - especially the door and windows.

If they don't want to accommodate any of this, then walk away. Good luck.

We have a 10 year old TT which sits under a metal carport when not in use. It gets cleaned inside and out after every outing. Never had a leak or othe major issues. People have commented on how "new" it looks.

The point - if the TT has been cared for then I would not worry about buying an older TT. If the unit had a leak, then it would be obvious by now (stains on the walls - inside and out).

See if the dealer will offer a "non-leak" guarantee for say 6 months - to put your mind at ease. All mechanicals are pretty simple and if your handy then you should be able to rectify any issue.

But it is 8 years old - so don't expect it to be perfect but also it should not be trashed.

Gerry